Improvement in platform-scales



H. T. LAWTON.

PLATFORM-SCALE. No. 189,475. Patented April 10, 1877.

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f V i kL Q 6 *x MPETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPNEFL WASHINGTON. D. Cv

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HIRAM T. LAWTON, OF MIDDLETOVVN SPRINGS, VERMONT.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLATFORM-SCALES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 189,475, dated April10, 1877; application filed December 11, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM T. LAWTON, of Middletown Springs, of thecounty of Butland,

of the State of Vermont, have invented a new.

companying drawings, of which Figure l is a top view, Fig. 2 anunderside view, and Fig. 3 a transverse section, of a railwayscale-platform and pit, provided with my invention, which equallyanswers for various other platform-scales.

The invention is to prevent the platform, or the working parts by whichit may be supported, from being obstructed in their operations in winterby ice, frost, or snow.

his well known that it frequently happens that ice will form or snow getbetween the edges of the platform and the sides of the pit, so as toclog the platform more or less, and thereby prevent it from actingproperly.

Inv carrying out my invention, I arrange within the pit A, and usuallyon its sides and ends, and just below the edges of the platform B, oneor more pipes, 0, provided with openings or holes for discharge ofsteam, directly into the pit, or upward between such and the perimeterof the platform. 1n. the drawing, the pipe 0 is continuous or goesaround the entire pit, and is provided with an educt or pipe, a, for thedischarge of water arising from condensation of steam in such pipe. Thepipe or steam-discharger Chas also an induct or pipe, 1), arranged toextend up from it and above the pit, in order that steam from alocomotive-engine, when the latter may be upon the rails of theplatform, may be discharged through or by one or more suitableappliances into such pipe I), and thence into the pipe 0.

This steam, flowing out of the holes 00f the pipe G, will pass into thepit and escape therefrom through the narrow space encompassing theperimeter or edge of the platform. In so doing the steam will melt anyfrost, ice, or snow that may have formed in the pit, or on the bearingsor mechanism in such pit, or about the platform.

The drawing shows the platform-scale as arranged in a railway-track, DD, with rails 01 d on the platform.

Where the case may require it, there should be near the scale a smallsteam-generator for supplying steam to the discharger G.

If preferable, hot water or hot air may be used in the place of steam inthe pipe 0.

I claim- In combination with the platform-scale and its pit, one or morepipes provided with an induct and educts, and arranged substantially asand for the purpose as described.

HIRAM T. LAWTON.

Witnesses:

ROBERT R. WOODWARD, ERWIN HOWARD.

